In honor of this being Holy Week, leading up to Easter, we would like to share with you a favorite Southern tale about the legend of the Dogwood tree. This beloved tree is a favorite amongst many gardeners! This story is not Biblical, but points to Christ's sacrifice for humankind and Easter.

The legend goes that in the days of Christ, the Dogwood tree was a much larger, strong-trunked tree, much different from the smaller understory tree we are so fond of now. The story continues that when Christ was crucified, His cross was made of the sturdy bark of the Dogwood tree, and (as the legend goes) God both cursed and blessed the Dogwood tree the day His Son died. He cursed it by making it much smaller than it was, and blessed it by having it bloom every year during the Easter season as an additional reminder to the world of Jesus’ love.

Each bloom on a Dogwood tree has four petals, symbolizing a cross (as the legend tells it). At the end of each petal, there is a small indentation to remind us of the nails that pierced Jesus’ hands and feet. The center of each flower on the tree has a nubby look to it, reminding us of the crown of thorns placed on Christ’s head at the time of His crucifixion. And many times on the Dogwood flower, there are colors of red dotted on the bloom when you look closely, reminding us of the blood Jesus poured out for us.

This is a unique legend of the dogwood tree that has been handed down from many generations passed to go along with the remembrance and celebration of this time of year. We wish your family a very sweet Easter.